A small town in the northern part of Minnesota, Waskish is located along Upper Red Lake. Combined with Lower Red Lake, the two comprise the largest body of water entirely within the state. This area is a mecca for outdoor activities such as fishing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, bird watching and cross-country skiing. The nearest motel lodging to Waskish is less than 30 miles from town.
The Royal Shooks Motel, approximately 20 miles south of Waskish, is an affordable motel that has rooms starting at $42 a night, as of January of 2011. Rooms with kitchenettes cost an extra $8. Snowmobile trails run by the motel, which has cold-weather hook-ups in its parking lot. Conveniently situated at the juncture of highways 1 and 72, Royal Shooks is located in Northome, a small town that is best known for hosting the annual Koochiching County Fair. Events at the summer fair include an ATV race and demolition derby.
Situated approximately 30 miles to the southeast of Waskish, the Northome Motel is a family-owned and operated establishment with rooms that start at $44.95 a night, as of January 2011. Some of the rooms can sleep up to five people and are equipped with kitchenettes. A big plus is the motel is located directly across the street from the Powerhouse Bar and Grill, which is one of the two restaurants in Northorne.
The Drake Motel is in the town of Blackduck, which is approximately 30 miles southwest of the Waskish area. In addition to providing access to the many hunting and fishing opportunities in the area, the Drake Motel is within 20 miles of four colleges and next door to Wayside Park, which hosts the Woodcarvers Festival every year at the end of July. Located within two blocks of the hotel are two restaurants, a bait shop, a grocery store, banks, gas stations, a movie theater and a bowling alley. Some of the rooms have kitchenettes, and the hotel has its own fish and game cleaning room. Rooms started in the $50 range in January of 2011.
The AmericInn of Blackduck has rooms listing from $81 to $141 per night, as of January 2011. Hotel highlights include a fitness room, free hot breakfast, heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool. Among the attractions in Blackduck are the outdoor activities at Pine Tree Park, which is located at Blackduck Lake, four miles from the hotel. A municipal golf course is five miles away and the Blackduck Theatre is within one mile. Three restaurants, including the Hillcrest Supper Club, are two or fewer miles from the hotel. Some of the rooms have their own whirlpools.
